Christopher Shanahan, Director of the ICE New York Field Office, presents a plaque to Sheriff Smith

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith was honored recently by officials of the United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). The Sheriff was feted for his leadership in the work of the Sheriff’s Office in identifying, reporting and detaining foreign born persons arrested for committing state crimes in Putnam County.

Mr. Christopher Shanahan, Director of the ICE New York Field Office, issued a plaque to Sheriff Smith to commemorate the occasion. The inscription emblazoned on it cited the Sheriff’s “dedication and outstanding contributions to the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Criminal Alien and Secure Communities Programs. ” ICE Assistant Field Office Director James Mooney, accompanied by other ICE officials, conferred the plaque upon the Sheriff during a ceremony at the Sheriff’s Office, which was attended by members of the Sheriff’s command staff.

In making his presentation to the Sheriff, Mr. Mooney praised his efforts in helping establish what he called a “model” of cooperation and mutual support between federal and local law enforcers in dealing with criminal aliens. During Sheriff Smith’s tenure in office, the Sheriff’s Office has notified ICE agents about hundreds of criminal aliens who have been charged with committing state felonies and misdemeanors in Putnam County while in this country illegally. During the ceremony, Sheriff Smith cited the “outstanding joint teamwork” that his Office and ICE enjoyed in “working hard together to keep the people of Putnam County safe. “